Kusini Yengi ‘to return to Portsmouth in form’ despite John Mousinho frustrations
Kusini Yengi is looking to reignite his season at Portsmouth after serious injury issues, as John Mousinho remains frustrated.
Yengi is one of several Pompey players whom Mousinho has hardly been able to call upon this term, with the Australian international restricted to just 10 Championship appearances, three starts and zero goals.
The 26-year-old forward has only recently returned from three months on the sidelines, after he picked up a cruciate knee ligament injury while on international duty with Australia in November.
As a result, Yengi being recalled by Australia for their World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China – despite playing just 28 minutes in 2025 – has left a sour taste in the mouth for some at Fratton Park.
Mousinho frustrations understandable after Yengi update
Yengi being called straight back into the Australia squad after less than half an hour of first-team football since his injury could result in yet another setback for the striker, only damaging Portsmouth further.
| Team | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| Portsmouth | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Australia | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Pompey have already been through more than their fair share of injuries this season, and speaking to The News (10 March), Mousinho expressed his frustrations with Yengi’s Socceroos recall.
He said: “There’s nothing you can do about those sorts of things, really – we can’t exactly sit here and say he’s safer here with us with some of the injuries we’ve had this year.
“It was frustrating losing Kas when with Australia. He did it in a game, so it’s one of those where there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.
“We’d probably prefer to have Kas in the building for this international break, but, at the same time, I never want to stop anyone from fulfilling their international ambitions.”
Australia call-up can be re-making of Yengi at Portsmouth
Although Yengi will miss out on the chance to gain valuable recovery time at Pompey’s Hilsea training ground during the international break, he could return with something even more valuable – confidence.
Confidence is key to any striker’s game, and with Yengi yet to find the net at all for Portsmouth this term amid his limited appearances, breaking that duck in an Australia shirt could do him the world of good.
Yengi and his Socceroos team-mates will have a job to do against Indonesia and China given both games are World Cup qualifiers, and scoring in competitive matches could prove vital to his output for Pompey.
Pompey have been hit from pillar to post with injuries this season with Yengi one of several casualties in blue, but if he returns to Fratton Park full on confidence, Portsmouth’s safety from relegation will only be rubber-stamped.